Michael O’Neill
@michaeloneill.org
Inorganic Chemistry || University of Liverpool || Education || Blogging || Textbooks || www.michaeloneill.org || PERIODically Podcast supporter
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Funded PhD position: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
This is an interdisciplinary project where you get to do coordination chemistry with bismuth and zinc, as well as some microbiology and some computational chemistry - all in the name of combatting antimicrobial resistance.
Currently UK only.
This is an interdisciplinary project where you get to do coordination chemistry with bismuth and zinc, as well as some microbiology and some computational chemistry - all in the name of combatting antimicrobial resistance.
Currently UK only.
Metals against AMR - Understanding how bismuth inhibits metallo-β-lactamase enzymes at Nottingham Trent University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Metals against AMR - Understanding how bismuth inhibits metallo-β-lactamase enzymes at Nottingham Trent University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Funded PhD position: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
This is an interdisciplinary project where you get to do coordination chemistry with bismuth and zinc, as well as some microbiology and some computational chemistry - all in the name of combatting antimicrobial resistance.
Currently UK only.
This is an interdisciplinary project where you get to do coordination chemistry with bismuth and zinc, as well as some microbiology and some computational chemistry - all in the name of combatting antimicrobial resistance.
Currently UK only.
Thoughts with staff at Leicester as this awful situation develops while they're also busy teaching.
I spoke to staff at @uniofleicester.bsky.social who told me at least 9 chemistry staff were at risk of redundancy under new proposals that would see the school of chemistry merge with the school of geography, geology and the environment: www.chemistryworld.com/university-o... @chemistryworld.com
University of Leicester chemistry department could lose at least nine staff under merger proposals
Staff warn cuts would leave the department without the resources to teach Leicester's growing student population
www.chemistryworld.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Thoughts with staff at Leicester as this awful situation develops while they're also busy teaching.
Article on student complaints about being taught with AI-generated materials. The language in the University's statement was fascinating. 5min read. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
‘We could have asked ChatGPT’: students fight back over course taught by AI
Staffordshire students say signs material was AI-generated included suspicious file names and rogue voiceover accent
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Article on student complaints about being taught with AI-generated materials. The language in the University's statement was fascinating. 5min read. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Been doing very quick storyboard sketches to help students connect with the wider story of a lecture course in magnetism. I think it works ok.
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Been doing very quick storyboard sketches to help students connect with the wider story of a lecture course in magnetism. I think it works ok.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
new publication (my first!) in the JCP! pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/arti...
Chirality transfer in lyotropic twist–bend nematics
Using molecular simulations and classical density functional theory, we study the liquid-crystalline phase behavior of a series of bent rod-like mesogens with a
pubs.aip.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
new publication (my first!) in the JCP! pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/arti...
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Join us for a celebration of this year’s Education Prizes winners!
We are honouring inspirational, innovative and dedicated people working in primary, secondary, further and higher education. Follow the thread and learn about all 12 winners of our #RSCPrizes as we congratulate… #ChemSky
We are honouring inspirational, innovative and dedicated people working in primary, secondary, further and higher education. Follow the thread and learn about all 12 winners of our #RSCPrizes as we congratulate… #ChemSky
November 18, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Join us for a celebration of this year’s Education Prizes winners!
We are honouring inspirational, innovative and dedicated people working in primary, secondary, further and higher education. Follow the thread and learn about all 12 winners of our #RSCPrizes as we congratulate… #ChemSky
We are honouring inspirational, innovative and dedicated people working in primary, secondary, further and higher education. Follow the thread and learn about all 12 winners of our #RSCPrizes as we congratulate… #ChemSky
Obviously there are major geopolitical implications, but honestly thanks to President Trump for saying "no-one knows what a magnet is" in a discussion of trade policy for rare earth elements a week before my lecture on rare-earth magnetism. An electrifying video to show students after Hund's Rules.
November 18, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Obviously there are major geopolitical implications, but honestly thanks to President Trump for saying "no-one knows what a magnet is" in a discussion of trade policy for rare earth elements a week before my lecture on rare-earth magnetism. An electrifying video to show students after Hund's Rules.
Interesting piece on the university structures relating to (?causing?) student loneliness. 10min read.
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Interesting piece on the university structures relating to (?causing?) student loneliness. 10min read.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
At the individual level, obtaining a degree is consistently associated with improved life chances for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in all OECD countries.
This is particularly true in the UK, where universities play a highly important role in driving social mobility.
This is particularly true in the UK, where universities play a highly important role in driving social mobility.
November 12, 2025 at 7:46 AM
At the individual level, obtaining a degree is consistently associated with improved life chances for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in all OECD countries.
This is particularly true in the UK, where universities play a highly important role in driving social mobility.
This is particularly true in the UK, where universities play a highly important role in driving social mobility.
I was teaching in Engineering this morning, and saw this sign about the invention of the goal net by the @evertonfc.com fan the building is named after.
November 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I was teaching in Engineering this morning, and saw this sign about the invention of the goal net by the @evertonfc.com fan the building is named after.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - PhD Studentship in C–H Functionalisation Using Polymetallic Complexes at Imperial College London, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We are advertising for two PhD studentships in organometallic chemistry! Come and work with us @imperialchemistry.bsky.social from October 2026:
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Advert 2) www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
This is excellent. Describes graduate salaries in the context of employers failing to invest in productivity growth. 10min read. theconversation.com/university-s...
University still pays off – even in lower-wage Britain
This isn’t a story about university losing its value. It’s a story about Britain becoming a lower wage economy.
theconversation.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:04 AM
This is excellent. Describes graduate salaries in the context of employers failing to invest in productivity growth. 10min read. theconversation.com/university-s...
Prepping for teaching magnetism next week, and discovering in an idle google that the word “quench” comes from an old English word for “extinguish”.
November 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Prepping for teaching magnetism next week, and discovering in an idle google that the word “quench” comes from an old English word for “extinguish”.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Europe's MSCA postdoctoral fellowships are now attracting many researchers who would have gone to the US. So the payline has dropped below 10% (~1,600 fellowships to 17k applicants). Super tough situation. One more reason to double the next Horizon budget, as proposed by the EU Commission.
Applications for MCSA are up 64%! 50% now come from outside the EU. Trump effect?
The European Research market just got a hell of a lot more crowded.
EU should turn on the tap
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/news/msca-po...
The European Research market just got a hell of a lot more crowded.
EU should turn on the tap
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/news/msca-po...
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 receives record number of 17,058 proposals
This year’s annual MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call has attracted considerable interest from the research community with 17,058 proposals submitted.
marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu
November 3, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Europe's MSCA postdoctoral fellowships are now attracting many researchers who would have gone to the US. So the payline has dropped below 10% (~1,600 fellowships to 17k applicants). Super tough situation. One more reason to double the next Horizon budget, as proposed by the EU Commission.
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
On Hull — Michael O'Neill
A personal reflection on the closure of Hull’s Chemistry Department, where I held my first academic post.
www.michaeloneill.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Something I have found interesting over the last few years is how first year students are so keen to draw Hess cycles in ways which reflect the energies of each system. Sheer horror in the workshop when I draw cycles like this.
October 31, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Something I have found interesting over the last few years is how first year students are so keen to draw Hess cycles in ways which reflect the energies of each system. Sheer horror in the workshop when I draw cycles like this.
Honest millennial question: what was academia like before emails?
October 31, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Honest millennial question: what was academia like before emails?
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
On Hull — Michael O'Neill
A personal reflection on the closure of Hull’s Chemistry Department, where I held my first academic post.
www.michaeloneill.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
It's been one year since my blog on the closure of Hull, which kind of blew up. A thread with some reflections on what's happened since then. 1/ www.michaeloneill.org/blog-1/2024/...
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Sound UP 👍
The legend that is the Japanese Ambassador to the UK enjoying a bowl of Scouse in Liverpool
October 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Sound UP 👍
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
On Thursday Sofia Olendraru from PERIODically presented at the Variety in Chemistry/Physics Higher Education Conference 2025!
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
August 30, 2025 at 10:57 AM
On Thursday Sofia Olendraru from PERIODically presented at the Variety in Chemistry/Physics Higher Education Conference 2025!
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
Sofia presented her poster titled ‘Towards Period Dignity: Increasing and Improving Accessible Provision of Free Period Products’.
❤️🩸🧪
#ViCEPHEC2025
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Shoutout to whoever was like the news sucks, let’s spice it up by doing a jewel heist at the Louvre
October 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Shoutout to whoever was like the news sucks, let’s spice it up by doing a jewel heist at the Louvre
Reposted by Michael O’Neill
Remember the Year of the MOOC from a decade ago? The one where tech bros predicted the end of all but 3-4 universities because who needs campuses when everyone can just take MOOCs and learn everything? Hits a little different now after pandemic pedagogy, huh? The tech hype cycle is a helluva drug.
October 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Remember the Year of the MOOC from a decade ago? The one where tech bros predicted the end of all but 3-4 universities because who needs campuses when everyone can just take MOOCs and learn everything? Hits a little different now after pandemic pedagogy, huh? The tech hype cycle is a helluva drug.
Doing cell volume/atomic radii problems in a tutorial today and thinking about how we are still using Pythagoras' work thousands of years after he died.
October 15, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Doing cell volume/atomic radii problems in a tutorial today and thinking about how we are still using Pythagoras' work thousands of years after he died.
Teaching scientific writing like
The harpoon was hurled.
October 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Teaching scientific writing like